Embark on a journey where the beauty of Philippines' vibrant culture and the understated refinement of Japanese aesthetics take center stage, inspired by the luxurious elegance of a pearl. This combination not only creates a visually captivating space but also weaves a narrative of cultural synergy and appreciation.
Pearl of the Orient meets prosperity, is a bedroom fusion of Filipino and Japanese culture created by Victor Flores, Kaila Caido, Sophia Serrano, and Jade Vinco in the latest "PHusion" exhibit at Greenfield Tower in Mandaluyong City. The room’s layout combines the Philippines' rare and natural beauty with Japanese belief in number eight, which symbolizes "growth."
In an interview with Manila Bulletin Property Living, they shared how the design came into fruition. Thinking out of the box, they conceptualized to make an unusual yet functional interior. “After the extensive research we did, we were able to produce a space that showcases Japan’s oriental influence and the Philippines’ abundant natural resources in an opulent viewpoint.”
One of their statement pieces is the bed, inspired by “Perlas ng Silanganan,” with its shell-like frame and a small round pillow placed at the center to portray the pearl. With pearls found prominent in both countries, they used this as their focal point for their design. The use of natural resources such as capiz, solihiya, bamboo, and rocks adds depth to the interior. Finally, a splash of red is also added as an accent color, symbolizing peace.
“To the Philippines, the pearl is valued as the national gem of the country for its abundance and long history of cultivation. As for Japan, the Omamori pearl signifies a lot of things such as protection, happiness, and good luck in their culture. Considering the theme of the exhibit, the team pondered heavily on how to showcase the importance of such a beautiful gem to the crowd while making it work with the project – which led to our bed design, intricately done while using materials mostly implemented as well in the Philippines and Japan (natural materials),” the group shared.
Aside from the time constraints and doubts on how to bring their design into reality, their main struggle was due to the obscure shape of their booth. Executing their design will cost them a lot of materials and effort. But with the help of their contractor, they’ve adapted and made it work. These challenges encouraged them to be resilient, pushing their limits and capabilities.
Witnessing the transformation from design concepts to tangible reality is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the team, as their visionary ideas seamlessly materialized into a stunning and functional living space. “It feels rewarding to see your hard work pay off and your vision come to life. As students [who were] gradually being introduced to the reality of our field, it was indeed a challenging yet fulfilling project,” the group said.
Lastly, when asked what they would say now to their younger selves before they started this project, they said, “Always take a second to breathe when things get too overwhelming; all these will turn out amazing as long as you remain consistent with your goals.”